The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-26
The Political Rights Of Government
Employees.

1
The Press dispatches contain an inter
view between Civil Service Commits
sioner Edgerton and reporter, in which
views not entirely in harmony with those
entertained and advanced by the pro-
moters of civil service reform are an
The Commissioner, when |
asked if in his opinion Government
clerks and employees had right, I'M
abridged by the civil service law, to as
sociate themselves together as a so-
ciety or association for the purpose of
advancing the interests of any political
party, and whether such society or asso-
citation have right to assess its mem
bers, or to receive from them, directly
or indirectly, contributions for political
purposes, answered:
" PROFESSIONALLY they have the right.
When a person has successfully passed a
civil service examination and has been
duly certified and permanently appointed
TO the classified service, there the authority
of the commission ceases, and his action
thereafter is controlled by the appointing
power; from that moment his action is out
side the control, authority, influence or
power Of the Civil Service Commission.
He is entirely outside Of their jurisdic-
tom
"But," questioned the reporter, ''is not
| the commission charged with the enforce
ment of the civil service law, and does not
that law prohibit such contribution? Sec
ton Is, of the act of Jan. 16, 1888, says
that mo officer, clerk or other person in the
service of the United States shall, directly
or indirectly, give or hand over to any
| other officer, clerk or person in the service
of the United States, or to any Senator or
member of the House OF Representatives,
or Territorial Delegates, any money or
other valuable thing on account of or to be
| applied to the promotion of any political
| object whatever Is not the civil service
commission responsible for the enforcement
OF that law in the letter and spirit?'
Certainly it is" said Mr. Edgerton,
| "but that law has nothing to do with in
individuals outside of their Offices or Off
cisl positions. Nothing is said about as
sociations The commission is not licensed
as a detective association, or clothed with
its functions or authority. Ex-Commis-
sioners Eaton and Gregory, in letter to
the President dated Oct 19, 1885, state
that it hardly need be said that the COM
mission have no authority concerning the
forcement of the criminal provisions of the
civil service act"
"The President, in his circular letter Of
July IA, 1885, to heads of departments
says that individual interests and activity il
political affairs are by no means condemn
ed. Ofice-hOlders are neither disfranchis
? ed nor forbidden the exercise OF political
privileges, but their privileges are not en-
larged, nor is their duty to party increased
| to pernicious activity by ofice-holding
Can anything be palmer than that?" sale
Mr.. Edgerton. "Does the President any
where in that letter intimate that clerl
= must become a political mute? No, sir; i
r is pernicious activity; it is the brawlin;
oiIensiveness that the President condemns
: as do all right-thinking men, but an homes
T effort in the interest of the party in who's,
: principles he believes is commendable."
, "What are your views in regard to Nj
1 Oberly's recent orders, that the member
] of any political committee, association o
4 any one engaged In the work of promotin,
I the interests of any political party, shall
not be eligible for appointment on board
of civil service examiners" was asked.
D 81 think such an order is not justife'
by the law or any order made by the Pres
ident 1t involves political inquiry by tn
commission, right or privilege denied Il
r il by the law" was the reply. HE nigh
: as well order that any man belonging t
any particular religious society shall b,
ineligible for appointment on such boards
) No, sir" he continued, "all of this is out
I side of the jurisdiction of the Civil Servic
Commission. | thoroughly believe in al
honest Interpretation OF the civil serSic
: law; | believe in enforcing that law in tn
, manner Congress intended to have it en-
forced; but | do not believe in strainin,
after something, nobody knows what, TO
} political or personal effect, and [ believe
, that the President and three -fourths of tn
Democratic party will sustain my posi-
I ton"
The belief that civil service reform o
the kind that has been so highly extolleo
by the mug-wumps, is a sham, has BEEF
quite common for a long time; but i
would seem from Mr.. Edgerton's expires
,sions as to the scope and object of tn,
civil service law. that there is not mucl
in it beyond the competitive examina
ton system, and the requirement tina
an employee of the government shall
conduct himself decently. Notwithstand
ing Mr.. Edgerton's opinion, we can bu
think that the spirit of the law forbid'
the employees of the Government from
associating themselves together in a dis
tinctive organization "for the purpose o
advancing the interests of any politica
party" What they may do as citizen
of the United States is another thing.
| If, by forming society, assessment
may be levied, and money collected 70
political purposes from the officers and
employees of the Government, section
10 of the act of January 16, 1888, is ;
dead letter. As we'll might the old-timt
plan of making the assessments and col
lecting them be re-inaugurated. 1t il
probable that Mr.. Edgerton has been er
roneously reported.